Project Credits

Thank you to all who helped in the design and execution of the Communication Matters
project, including the Advisory Committee, the Communications Network board of
directors, and countless other partners and collaborators.

Project Team

AGENCY 3.0 – AGENCY 3.0 offers custom and creative solutions
for business and non-profit organizations that want to create a website or web
strategy to more effectively communicate with their audience. Learn more at
http://www.agency3.com.

Brotherton Strategies – Brotherton Strategies is a Seattle-based
strategic communications agency serving a mix of mission-driven, socially responsible
organizations worldwide. Since 2004, the firm has helped advance social change
by researching, designing, planning and implementing smart communication programs
for more than 100 foundations, NGOs, non-profits and for-profit partners. Learn
more at
http://www.brothertonstrategies.com.

J Sherman Studio – J Sherman Studio is an independent design
firm of three uniquely talented and creative women, located just outside of Boston.
The Studio partners with clients to get results. They strive to make design—a
sometimes fuzzy, subjective, and nebulous endeavor—straightforward and fun.
They are committed to their aesthetic and design style and focus on providing professional,
flexible, and friendly design services. J Sherman Studio works with organizations
and businesses in the non-profit and for-profit sector providing art direction,
brand strategy, and visual design services, all with excellent project management
and on a long-term basis. Learn more at
http://www.jshermanstudio.com.

learn more about the model

Communications is central to our strategy — or should be anyway. It is a programmatic lever that we should use early and often.
TrusteePrivate Foundation

our positionMore people than ever understand the value of strategic communication.

The research gathered during the Communication Matters project, and shared in
this website, reflects a broad consensus that communications must be embraced as
an integral strategy for every organization seeking to advance social change.

We now believe the main challenge underlying the lack of effective communications
at many organizations is no longer about getting the importance of communications.
The opportunity lies in doing more effective communications.

methodology

From the outset of the Communication Matters project our objective was to cast a wide net and collect as many informed opinions as possible. We achieved this goal in several ways:

Formed an advisory group of communication professionals from private foundations, community foundations and nonprofits

Put out a call through the Network for “best in class” examples

Searched and reviewed the literature

Facilitated two online forums, one with communication professionals and one with program professionals

Broadly disseminated an online survey, with special outreach to CEOs, executive directors and program leaders